This article is part of our DraftKings KBO series.
DraftKings serves up a four-game KBO slate Thursday, as the Bears-Dinos twin bill isn't included. When dealing with a 10-team league, even one fewer game than usual naturally narrows the player pool significantly. While there's a bit more of a targeted approach I'll take in terms of which pitchers to try and roster against, there are luckily still a pair of quality arms that I believe can thrive in their respective matchups.
As customary, I'll highlight what I consider to be two of the safer pitching options at different price points, followed by some one-off hitters across the salary scale that could also prove profitable for cash games and/or tournaments. I'll then recommend two stacks that I trust the most to potentially string some above-average offensive numbers together and pay off for you in tournaments.
Pitchers
David Buchanan ($9,900) is averaging 19.8 DK points per outing and has put up a solid 18.1 DK points on the road specifically. He's also been very good against LG this season, posting a 2.50 ERA across 18 innings over three starts. The Twins have an impressive 47-37 record, but they're still averaging the second-fewest runs (4.5) and hits (8.3) per game while also posting the third-lowest team batting average (.252) in the league. Buchanan has over 15 DK points in seven of his last eight turns overall, and the matchup sets up well for another strong tally.
Eui Lee Lee ($9,200) has been excellent in his home park, where he's posted a 18.5 DK points per game, a .174 BAA, a 2.90 ERA and 50 strikeouts across 40.1 innings over eight starts. The southpaw faces a Lotte squad that sports an impressive .272 team batting average and that's given trouble this season, but on a smaller slate than usual and with Lee having allowed two earned runs or less in four straight starts, he's worth a shot, especially in tournaments.
Top Targets
Baek Ho Kang ($6,300) is enjoying an elite season that includes a .387 average and 1.065 OPS, along with 37 extra-base hits and 70 RBI. The 22-year-old is also hitting .381 with runners in scoring position and Landers starter Tae Yang Lee has already been bounced around by Wiz hitters for an 11.57 ERA, 3.00 WHIP and .417 BAA. Kang has given Landers pitching plenty of trouble too, posting a .424 average, 1.149 OPS and 10.9 DK points per contest over eight games.
Hye Seong Kim ($5,800) comes into Thursday's favorable matchup against Si Hwan Jang with a .300 average, .741 OPS and average of 9.2 DK points per game. The 22-year-old has also significantly propped up his fantasy value with 30 stolen bases, and he's been an excellent home hitter with a .318 average and 9.6 DK points per game. Kim is also running hot with a .378 average in his last 10 contests overall, while Jang checks in with an 0-9 record, 6.28 ERA and .305 BAA in 14 appearances this season.
Jeong Choi ($5,600) has already belted 22 homers and has been in his best form on the road, where he owns a .298 average, .999 OPS and 10.6 DK points per game. The 34-year-old checks in a bit of a mini-slump after going 0-for-9 over his last three games, and while KT starter Sang Back Um has gotten off to a solid start in a small sample this season, he still carries a career 6.12 ERA and 1.69 WHIP into Thursday's start.
Bargain Bats
Yoo Seom Han ($3,800) has belted 16 homers on the season, and he's raked against Wiz pitching to the tune of a .300 average, .964 OPS and 10 RBI over eight games. The slugger is slumping over his last 10 games (.200 average), but he's still racked up three round trippers during that span and will have the same appealing matchup against Um as his teammate Choi.
Preston Tucker ($3,300) is having a sub-par season after slugging 32 homers and driving in 113 runs last season, as he has just five round trippers and 35 RBI in 76 games thus far. However, he still carries plenty of upside, especially at his current salary. Tucker has also been very good versus Lotte pitching this season (.333 average, .936 OPS, 10.3 DK points per game), while Giants pitcher Dan Straily has pitched to a 5.98 ERA and .293 BAA in his last 10 starts, and a 9.00 ERA and .391 BAA in his one encounter with Kia.
Stacks To Consider
Landers vs. Sang Back Um: Shin Soo Choo ($5,500); Jeong Choi ($5,600); Yoo Seom Han ($3,800); Seong Han Park ($3,200)
Um's suspect career body of work was already detailed in Choi's entry, and it's also worth noting when considering the Landers as a stack that they're averaging a solid 5.1 runs per game and have slugged a KBO-high 118 homers.
Choo does carry an elevated salary but is a worthwhile investment to start your stack with, considering his 14 homers, 16 steals and .837 OPS across 42 road games.
Choi and Han already had their cases made in their respective entries, while Park makes for a very appealing value play to round out the stack with. The 23-year-old owns a .351 average with runners in scoring position and has been an elite hitter on the road, posting a .379 average, .963 OPS and 16 RBI over 44 games in that split.
Heroes vs. Si Hwan Jang: Hye Seong Kim ($5,800); Dong Won Park ($5,000); Byung Ho Park ($3,500)
Jang's atrocious season numbers were already detailed in Kim's entry, and he also already allowed six runs (four earned) over four innings in his first encounter with Kiwoom this season. The Heroes are also averaging a solid 5.2 runs per contest.
Kim's case was already detailed earlier, while Dong Won Park brings some nice pop to the stack. The backstop has already slugged 19 homers and has posted DK tallies of 23 and 36 points in two of his last three games, underscoring his significant fantasy ceiling.
Finally, Byung Ho Park has blasted 12 round trippers in his own right and has hit Golden Eagles pitching well, furnishing a .281/.385/.563 slash line and average of 9.0 DK points in nine games. While the veteran does still strike out a good bit, his totals of 16 and 19 DK points within his last eight games and his very cost-effective salary make him a worthwhile tournament option.
